We at Serenity Light Recovery utilize a variety of techniques in our residential treatment program helping heal the whole individual from addiction. One such technique we use is massage therapy, one of the world’s oldest healing traditions. Massage and addiction intertwine in some interesting ways. The benefits of massage therapy are numerous in helping to overcome substance addiction.
Massage and Addiction
How does massage and addiction impact each other? Massage therapy has various effects on the body including:
- Releasing natural endorphins
- Relieving Stress
- Mental stability
Many people end up abusing substances because of the intense pleasure it causes. Thus, a treatment therapy that can naturally replace this pleasure is beneficial. One such treatment is our massage therapy. Massage triggers the release of dopamine and endorphins from your brain. These pleasure hormones are the same substances used by those struggling with addiction. Since massage and addiction share in releasing the same pleasure hormones, it makes sense to attempt to replace one with the other.
As an alternative source of these pleasure hormones, massage therapy is a useful tool. Reawakening those reward and pleasure pathways in your nervous system is invaluable.
Benefits of Massage
A significant trigger for many people struggling with substance abuse is stress. Also, it can be a major trigger for relapse. Massage therapy helps eliminate this trigger by naturally reducing stress. Because it has the power to lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels, we can’t ignore the usefulness of massage in dealing with addiction. When you practice massage therapy regularly, you can reduce the likelihood of relapse in your recovery.
Stable psychological health is of utmost importance during recovery. During addiction, mood swings and extreme emotions can push individuals into relapse. By stabilizing your mental state, massage therapy once again reduces the possibility of relapse. At the same time, massage therapy can make the recovery process easier to get through by giving clients a means to release the anxiety and stress their other therapies my bring out. The result is that the person in recovery can navigate recovery with a sounder mind and experience less temptation to use again.
Massage Therapy Improves Overall Health
Someone recovering from addiction needs careful healing of the entire body. Clearly, massage and addiction have an interesting relationship. Massage therapy helps strengthen the body’s natural healing processes. Because massage reduces stress keeping your heart rate and blood pressure down, it can drastically reduce the likelihood of it being a trigger. Regular massages can even help strengthen the immune system and digestion processes. Essentially, massage therapy can strengthen a person’s overall health, putting them in a better position to navigate a successful recovery.
Alongside this, massage fosters a positive attitude. The mental and physical health benefits of massage therapy leave a person feeling better overall, helping them to have a more positive attitude and outlook on life. This can prove essential in recovery when individuals are often feeling at their very lowest.
Serenity Light Recovery’s massage therapy prokes a positive outlook and attitude which can make your journey through recovery smoother. This is just one of our numerous treatments. To find out more, contact us today at (281) 431-6700.
As our CEO, Heather’s main calling is to stay true to the vision of the organization, which is saving lives and striving to redefine statistics by raising the standard of care with evolving treatment methods. Heather studied psychology at LSU and both the main and Clear Lake campuses of the University of Houston, and she is a certified IASIS provider and CPI instructor. She’s been helping people in recovery since 2011. Heather’s motto to live by is “I am not what I’ve done; I am what I’ve overcome.”
